Pasco PFD signs off on $321,356 in change orders to ready concessions and equipment at aquatic center

The Pasco Public Facilities District board on Oct. 21 approved three change orders (PCO 12, PCO 14 and PCO 15) totaling $321,356.32 for work on the district—s aquatic facility construction project. The actions add infrastructure and equipment capacity intended to make the concessions area more usable and future-ready.

Board members voted by voice to approve the change orders after project staff and the design-builder summarized the scope and budget impacts. The executive director said he will follow up with the contractor to finalize signatures and payments.

PCO 12 adds infrastructure to support concessions operations. Project staff said the work includes additional plumbing and electrical circuits and an upsized HVAC/cooling capacity to support anticipated equipment; staff identified roughly $80,000 of the item as HVAC-related and about $23,000 as additional electrical work. The changes aim to accommodate a potential concessionaire and allow for equipment such as freezers, cooling and higher-capacity ovens that were not part of the original limited snack-shack scope.

PCO 14 is a roughly $62,000 item described by staff as related to a Labor & Industries requirement that triggered additional work the project did not originally expect.

PCO 15 is a $132,000 furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) item. Staff explained the FF&E funds already planned in the budget will be used to buy certain equipment; rather than purchasing the equipment separately, the district will route procurement through the design-builder to achieve coordination and potentially better pricing. Staff emphasized that this PCO does not increase owner contingency spending because the equipment is being paid from the FF&E line already in the budget; the change order moves that procurement into the contractor—s contract for efficiency.

Project staff fielded questions about the approval process and the stakeholder register the board adopted earlier. Under that policy, the design-builder is authorized to sign change orders below a $50,000 threshold; any PCO above $50,000 is brought to the full board, which the three approved PCOs were.

Heath, a design-and-construction staff member, told the board the overall construction schedule remains on track and the contractor—s management of a recent operator strike did not delay the project. Heath also summarized contingency tracking: of about $2,300,000 spent from design-builder contingency to date, only $482,000 represented unforeseen items required by conditions or code; the remainder reflected chosen betterments and owner-driven scope additions.

The board approved the change orders by voice vote. After the vote the executive director said he would sign on behalf of the district so the contractor could proceed with the work and procurement.

What—s next: project staff will execute the approved change orders with the contractor and continue scheduling site-walks and coordination with operations staff ahead of openings planned for 2026.

Key figures and context - Total approved change orders (PCO 12, 14, 15): $321,356.32 - PCO 12: infrastructure for concessions (includes ~ $80,000 HVAC and ~$23,000 electrical) - PCO 14: labor & industries related item, ~ $62,000 - PCO 15: FF&E reallocation, ~ $132,000 (to be paid from the FF&E budget, not owner contingency) - Design-builder contingency spent to date: ~$2,300,000 (approx. $482,000 unforeseen; remainder betterments)

Sources and attribution: reporting based on statements by project staff and design/construction committee updates at the Oct. 21 Pasco Public Facilities District board meeting. Direct attribution used for comments by Heath (design-and-construction staff).